The reason I peruse Powells

Last week Zach and I ended up spending an evening at Powells bookstore. We get sucked into the aisles and aisles of books awaiting our discovery frequently. This night was no exception.

At the beginning we go our seperate ways, Zach heading to the Gold Room which holds the mecca of Star Wars and I browse through the Orange Room new releases/best sellers making my way to the Rose Room which holds the kids/juvenile fiction. Armed with my phone, I snap pictures of bookcovers that attract my attention so that I can run to the library and retrieve them. However, this may not be the fool proof plan. As I meandered this night, I glanced up to see this cover...

...and squealed!

The next Land of Elyon series had come out and I did not know it. I really like this series--so much that it is a purchase worthy series.

Purchased.

Mr. Carman did not dissappoint in the fourth book. Once again, Alexa is swept into a grand adventure, playing a part of a bigger picture. Beside friends, old and new, she uses wit, courage, and new resources to destroy the menace that continues to haunt Elyon.

Unfortunately, the end of the books reads as though it is the final end. I confess, I am quite sad, but see the potential for tendril storylines to be developed and written. I will hope while rereading the series over and over and over...

Firstborn failure

The Barnes and Noble review begins with, "Eldest of three sisters in a land where it is considered to be a misfortune, Sophie is resigned to her fate as a hat shop apprentice until a witch turns her into an old woman..."

It caught my attention. I am a firstborn and the thought of a book penned around a failing firstborn would be intriguing; add a dash of magic and I am hooked.

I was not dissappointed, but quite charmed with Ms. Jones' writing style and story line. Sophie's story shows depth in character, and plays on the common theme that things are not what they seem. Ironically, while reading this book I learned that it had been made into a movie, as well as Ms. Jones has quite the repetoire of books. I have the second one to this story line in the pile to read.

A cup of tea on this wintery night

Four days ago I displayed the warmth that was enveloping the Northwest.

Now I sit with a cup of tea in a long sleeve T-shirt. Geez.

However, I have the gymnastics scoring to keep me fiery hot. The rants continue in the Banker abode!

.8 deduction for vaulting well

Tempers are flaring a bit at the Banker abode. How do I capture the uproar and rage we are displaying on Alicia's behalf! As the ultimate gymnastic judges that we are, we are perplexed that a landing on two knees outscores a little hop. Our conclusion is that the deductions are as follows:

1. .5 deduction for being American
2. .1 deduction for having a yellow swirling spandex outfit, versus a red outfit
3. .1 deduction for having pink toe nail polish
4. .1 deduction for eating eggs and hashbrowns for breakfast rather than two apple cinnamon rice cakes

Earlier this evening I was intently watching the 8+ rowing. They were an inspiration of clean grabs, swing, and strong drives. The funny part is towards the end I was yelling at the TV "power ten". Finally Zach turned around and said, "What are you saying? In my ears I am hearing purple pigs fly with orange wings or pink elephants going to Brazil!!!"

His defense is that when he yells for soccer he speaks coherantly, words such as "drop", "pass", and "man on".

Another side note, we have a female gymnast named Shawn and a male gymnast named Sasha. Huh?

Another random note, do the commentators listen to themselves? The commentator just noted that the National Gym had been full since the beginning. Shoo, I would hate to see if it was empty at the beginning and mysteriously filled up during the last event!

It is no secret that we have been sucked into the world of Olympics. We love people and we love the cultures represented. Therefore this blog entry turned into an Olympic random rant.

The reason I garden...

...is so that on the 104 degree days, when I walk to the garden to the water, I get a pleasant surprise of a rosy red blobs awaiting to be plucked.

I need to go get some cottage cheese.

Wearing the bikini!

Omigoodness! This is not something we see often in the temperate Northwest! I am rejoicing while my neighbors are melting.

My week in review...

My last post was about my week to come; this is a week in review. Geez, where did the time go? On top of that, I have not even processed the wacky, crazy weekend that proceeded the past five days.


I will start as John did, "In the beginning..."


Saturday
The household sluggishly arose in excitement of the Amazing Race--Portland style. Smack talk ensued considering the girls were the Barracuda Divas...

...the boys were Team Spartucus.


The goal was to outlast the other. Unfortunately the boys acheived their goal.
Twelve hours later we lounged in the 24 Hour Fitness hot tub reflecting on a day full of challenges, cuss words, driving down one way streets the wrong way, anchovies, and many bruises and hurting body parts. It was a great day, but we were in pain. Watching each other ascend and descend the Banker abode steps was quite comical, making for many minutes of sheer laughter.

Sunday

In one of those moments of not connecting events together, Zach and I realized Saturday evening that we were signed up to ride in the Providence Bridge Pedal. We were a bit cranky and still sore starting out, but once the ride began it was worth it. Last year I did this ride with the Tour de Baggs team; this year I joined my husband, Matt, and Carol Green. Unfortunately, the Greens or speeding torpedos on wheels and I did not see them again after the initial two minutes of riding.

**This is where a picture of Team Green Bankers should be, but due to speedy fast legs they outran the photographer.**


Zach and I enjoyed a leisurely ride, stopping frequently to take pictures and take part in the festivities on top of the bridges.
One of my favorite parts of the ride was at the crossroads for continuing onto the Fremont or pit stopping for cookies/bananas/yogurt. I knew the pit stop existed, but had no plans to stop. However, I forgot I rode with a human that zones in on anything free and sugary. The volunteer bleated on her intercom "pit stop--food", Zach squeled to the left in mid pedal once he heard the announcement. I laughed, hard.

After completion we lounged on the grass enjoying the sunshine.

Pedaling back to our car we got a surprise--free access to Bite of Oregon. We have always been curious to this festival, but did not feel it was worth the fundage to get in. Thanks to our spiffy green bibs, we perused the grounds and registered for many giveaways.

I do not think we won since we have not received a call.

Nonetheless, it was a fun afternoon, but concluded it would not be worth paying the entrance fee. Hooray for free.

Monday-Wednesday

After a brief jaunt in the office, I headed up the gorge to Skamania Lodge. Our yearly board of directors retreat was about to begin and I had to start the festivities. The lodge was amazing, the event staff incredible, and the meeting was long, but full of laughter and good times.

Tuesday night Zach drove up to eat dinner with us. The directors loved him and I enjoyed showing Zach a piece of my job. The partying went long, so he ended up spending the night.

Thursday

Shifting gears, with one event down, there is a much larger one on the horizon. Urban Camp is about to culminate into Mosaic Mayhem v.2--the great picnic. Last night the Event Team had a brief meeting to lay the foundation, plan shopping and tell a few random stories along the way. It was great. I am so blessed to have such an incredible team; I have missed them during our summer break.

The day ended with this gorgeous sunset. I stand amazed at God's paintbrush some days.

My week...

Yes it is work, but sometimes it is just nice.

I could talk about the Amazing Race.

I could talk about Bridge Pedal.

But I think I am going to bed, thinking about this view. Hello Skamania Lodge.

Oh China, my heart yearns for you...

I love the Olympics! I do not care what country hosts or what weird animal mascot they choose, I cannot keep the goosebumps from appearing when I watch the countdown and the world come together to oooh and ahhh.

On this 8.8.08 night, I am especially enthralled. China. The country that I fell in love with seven years ago. I fell in love with the landscape.

I fell in love with the food.

I fell in love with the people.

I fell in love with the alleyways. I fell in love the smells, good and bad.

Geez, I fell in love.

Just so you know, I could live in China. I could walk the rice fields. I could eat noodles for years. I could handle a lifetime of chopsticks. I could study characters.

See, this is what happens with the Olympics. Especially with a country I have been enraptured with for a while now.

So tonight, I sit among friends mesmerized by a country that has so much to offer.

Send them to the hippos!

My work has been a bit hysterical the past few days. Next week is our yearly board retreat, and as much as I love to prod people to work ahead, it is an elusive subject to them. Therefore my attitude becomes a strained and testy due to stupid people those who do not embrace planning. However, amidst the 10 hour days and the constant clamor for my attention, I love that I can put on the work calendar mid-week:

AMANDA: OFF!

I ran away. Since Zach is in the working world now, he gets to be part of staff picnics and odd things of that nature. Yesterday, Multnomah staff took over the Oregon Zoo. There is nothing exuberantly spectacular about the Oregon Zoo. It has more plants than primates. More hay than hippos. More garbage than giraffes. More eggs than elephants.

Sorry, I got carried away.

Basically it is a nice setting that has animals. As the kids were squealing and clamoring for their parents to take them to the "one" animal that had to be seen, Zach and I were chuckling to ourselves. There is just something that changes within a person once seeing this sight…

…that makes this sight not as thrilling.

When a baboon has sat in your car…

…seeing it on a swing and behind glass just isn't as nail biting.

When I leaned out the window to get this picture, Francis panicked.

Seeing this dude do his daily exercise wasn't something to set an African on edge.

When you see miles of flamboyent pink...

...this pink doesn't make my heart go pitter patter.


However, as we watched the crowd gasp, point, giggle, etc. at the exhibits, Zach and I realized that we are so blessed to have seen these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, many of those around us would never see a baby zebra flirt and pounce with a baby giraffe. They would never see a herd of giraffe amble across the savannah. Nor would they stand amazed at this African view.

But then I saw this…

…and this…

…and realized there was much more I needed to see before I went screeching into the grave. I love hippos and elephants. They are just big, fat, and buff. They could chomp or clomp on the nastiness of the day.

Too bad there isn't a BRING A HIPPO TO WORK day.

I bet that would make people plan ahead.

The mayhem has begun...

For the second year, our church has planned two weeks of staycation fun! Last night we joined the festivities at the To house--Movie under the stars!

Before the movie started I gazed upon these beauties! Squash relish canning on the horizon!

The Great Outdoors

Friday's sky was a bit scary. The Gorge is known for pristine, sunny days where kite boarders and wind surfers skim the mighty Columbia River's surface.

This looked as though the scene from the Disney "Evil Mountain" or similarly titled. It appears in the first Fantasia and is followed by a serene Ava Maria with nuns strolling through a forest. As a child I thought it was a bit odd and weird, but as I have grown wiser I realize the redemptive picture that was painted. I love Ave Maria.

Sorry, digressing.

Scary skies were on the horizon for the camping trip.

Getting to Lost Lake was no easy feat. It is called Lost Lake for a reason, and when we stopped to glean directions from two cops they confirmed our suspicion. I walked to their window, and was greeted with, "Lost Lake, eh?"

After forty five minutes of more driving, we found our jewel.

We embraced the campfire upon our arrival.

Unfortunately, Saturday dawned bitterly cold and dreary. Matt, Mark, Steven, and I attempted to discover Lost Lake by canoe but with choppy waters and brutal winds, our paddling experience was a bit tense. However, for those moments of panic and windblown hair, I viewed a sight that I am awed by constantly. The clouds swirled, parted, and gave us a brief glimpse of Mt. Hood. No matter how long I live in Portland, I am continually amazed at her majesty and beauty. I sigh each time I meet her gaze.

The day was filled with book reading, naps, laughter, pyromaniacs attacking the fire pit, good food, and a remarkable view of the stars.

Zach and I slept in the CRV last night. We forewent a cold night in a tent, and we were not disappointed. Not only does she have a rack and picnic table, she provides a great back for sleeping. We do not need gear—just the CRV!

It goes without saying that Sunday dawned gorgeous and warm. Drats.

It was a great weekend to hang out with our group and we would not trade that experience for anything. I think all were a bit disappointed with activities that we could not do, however loved that we were able to escape to the great outdoors.

Thanks to Annie for being the battalion chief and coordinating one heck of a weekend!

Flashlight...check...toilet paper...check...sleeping bag...we just have one?!

In my heart I feel that I put less effort into going to Kenya than I have put into going camping down the road. I feel as though a mini army is being assembled to take over Lost Lake, with Annie as our battalion leader. Who knew so many griddles, eggs, coolers, tents, towels, etc. would be needed to assist 14 individuals enjoy the great outdoors?! On the list of things to bring that have been circulating I have been waiting for the H2 to be added as a necessity for getting the gear to the location.

The best part--this is what the outdoors look like at this moment.

Yes, that is rain on the pavement and the nameless CRV.

As a random side note, this was also on my boss's window.

Did I mention he is a MK? Welcome to Hubbell Communications--we bless all and advertise the fact with purple bumper stickers in an office window.

I love my job.